Tigran Mansurian performs US Premieres of Havik (1998) and Adaptations of Music by Komitas (1869-1935) at Other Minds 10 at San Francisco's Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, 2004.

Tigran Mansurian, Havik (1998)

Komitas (adaptations by Tigran Mansurian) (1869-1935)
Garun a (viola, piano, voice, percussion)
Krunk (piano, voice)
Chinar es (piano, voice)
Krunk (viola, percussion)
Hov arek (piano, voice)
Hoy, Nazan (viola, piano, voice)
Krunk (piano, voice)
Tsirani Tsar (piano, voice, percussion)
Antuni (piano, voice)
Oror (piano)

Tigran Mansurian, piano, voice
Kim Kashkashian, viola, narrator
Joel Davel, marimba

Funded in part by the Armenian Friends of Other Minds.

Mansurian recalls old Armenia in this poetic collection of folk songs featured on Hayren, his new CD on the ECM label. Kashkashian is one of todays most sought-after violists, both as a soloist and in chamber music. Her obvious musical and ancestral connection with the Armenian composer enriches this lovely, pure music. The spirit of Komitas, Armenias much-revered composer, priest, philosopher, poet and ethnomusicologist emerges through the soulful, dark timbre of Kashkashians viola and Mansurians quivering voice, linking ancient tradition with modern sensibility. Bay Area favorite Joel Davel joins them on percussion.

Komitas (1869-1935) is revered by Armenians as his nations most brilliant songwriter. He was also more than thisa composer, priest, philosopher, poet, ethnomusicologist, collector of folk songs, writer of sacred and secular music that bridged the old and the new. The fine line that connects the melodic character of the most ancient Armenian music with the works of contemporary Armenian composers runs through Komitas. In his settings of these folk songs, Mansurian shows us the rich soil from which his own music springs. By exploring Komitas, American-Armenian violist Kashkashian is also contacting her own roots. The necessity to live with our traditional melodies was already apparent to both of us, says Mansurian, and I understood that these pieces belong as much to Kim as they do to Komitas. Havik, Mansurians own piece is very much inspired by this same sound environment. The two pieces appear on their CD Hayren, on the ECM label (2003) (Notes from ECM).

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